Isolation and Characterization of Alfalfa-Nodulating Rhizobia Present in Acidic Soils of Central Argentina and Uruguay

We describe the isolation and characterization of alfalfa-nodulating rhizobia from acid soils of different locations in Central Argentina and Uruguay. A collection of 465 isolates was assembled, and the rhizobia were characterized for acid tolerance. Growth tests revealed the existence of 15 acid-tolerant (AT) isolates which were able to grow at pH 5.0 and formed nodules in alfalfa with a low rate of nitrogen fixation. Analysis of those isolates, including partial sequencing of the genes encoding 16S rRNA and genomic PCR-fingerprinting with MBOREP1 and BOXC1 primers, demonstrated that the new isolates share a genetic background closely related to that of the previously reported Rhizobium sp. Or191 recovered from an acid soil in Oregon (B. D. Eardly, J. P. Young, and R. K. Selander, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:1809–1815, 1992). Growth curves, melanin production, temperature tolerance, and megaplasmid profiles of the AT isolates were all coincident with these characteristics in strain Or191. In addition to the ability of all of these strains to nodulate alfalfa (Medicago sativa) inefficiently, the AT isolates also nodulated the common bean and Leucaena leucocephala, showing an extended host range for nodulation of legumes. In alfalfa, the time course of nodule formation by the AT isolate LPU 83 showed a continued nodulation restricted to the emerging secondary roots, which was probably related to the low rate of nitrogen fixation by the largely ineffective nodules. Results demonstrate the complexity of the rhizobial populations present in the acidic soils represented by a main group of N₂-fixing rhizobia and a second group of ineffective and less-predominant isolates related to the AT strain Or191.     

紫穗槐根瘤菌的分离与回接鉴定

采用YMA培养基对新鲜的紫穗槐(Amorpha fruticosa L.)根瘤提取物进行根瘤菌的分离培养,获得的菌落为圆形乳白色,表面凸起,直径0.4~0.5 cm,革兰反应阴性,显微观察显示为短杆状,分离菌株回接原宿主植物,同时接种于经60℃15 min水浴加热处理的紫穗槐种子,蛭石盆栽实验显示,接种此菌的紫穗槐植株都有结瘤,并与对照在结瘤数、瘤重、植株鲜重与干重间都有显著差异,实验证明所分离的菌株均为紫穗槐根瘤菌。     

Isolation and characterization of 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol-degrading rhizobia

2,3-Dichloro-1-propanol is more chemically stable than its isomer, 1, 3-dichloro-2-propanol, and is therefore more difficult to degrade. The isolation of bacteria capable of complete mineralization of 2, 3-dichloro-1-propanol was successful only from enrichments at high pH. The bacteria thus isolated were found to be members of the alpha division of the Proteobacteria in the Rhizobium subdivision, most likely Agrobacterium sp. They could utilize both dihaloalcohol substrates and 2-chloropropionic acid. The growth of these strains in the presence of 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol was strongly affected by the pH and buffer strength of the medium. Under certain conditions, a ladder of four active dehalogenase bands could be visualized from this strain in activity gels. The enzyme involved in the complete mineralization of 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol was shown to have a native molecular weight of 114,000 and consisted of four subunits of similar molecular weights.     

Novel Dehalogenase Mechanism for 2,3-Dichloro-1-Propanol Utilization in Pseudomonas putida Strain MC4

A Pseudomonas putida strain (MC4) that can utilize 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol (DCP) and several aliphatic haloacids and haloalcohols as sole carbon and energy source for growth was isolated from contaminated soil. Degradation of DCP was found to start with oxidation and concomitant dehalogenation catalyzed by a 72-kDa monomeric protein (DppA) that was isolated from cell lysate. The dppA gene was cloned from a cosmid library and appeared to encode a protein equipped with a signal peptide and that possessed high similarity to quinohemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs), particularly ADH IIB and ADH IIG from Pseudomonas putida HK. This novel dehalogenating dehydrogenase has a broad substrate range, encompassing a number of nonhalogenated alcohols and haloalcohols. With DCP, DppA exhibited a k(cat) of 17 s(-1). (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance experiments indicated that DCP oxidation by DppA in the presence of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP) and potassium ferricyanide [K(3)Fe(CN)(6)] yielded 2-chloroacrolein, which was oxidized to 2-chloroacrylic acid.     

Genetic Characterization of Soybean Rhizobia in Paraguay

The soybean is an exotic plant introduced in Paraguay in this century; commercial cropping expanded after the 1970s. Inoculation is practiced in just 15 to 20% of the cropping areas, but root nodulation occurs in most sites where soybeans grow. Little is known about rhizobial diversity in South America, and no study has been performed in Paraguay until this time. Therefore, in this study, the molecular characterization of 78 rhizobial isolates from soybean root nodules, collected under field conditions in 16 sites located in the two main producing states, Alto Paraná and Itapúa, was undertaken. A high level of genetic diversity was detected by an ERIC-REP-PCR analysis, with the majority of the isolates representing unique strains. Most of the 58 isolates characterized by slow growth and alkaline reactions in a medium containing mannitol as a carbon source were clustered with strains representative of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii species, and the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences of 5 of those isolates confirmed the species identities. However, slow growers were highly polymorphic in relation to the reference strains, including five carried in commercial inoculants in neighboring countries, thus indicating that the Paraguayan isolates might represent native bradyrhizobia. Twenty isolates highly polymorphic in the ERIC-REP-PCR profiles were characterized by fast growth and acid reactions in vitro, and two of them showed high 16S rDNA identities with Rhizobium genomic species Q. However, two other fast growers showed high 16S rDNA identity with Agrobacterium spp., and both of these strains established efficient symbioses with soybean plants.     

拟南芥根生长缺陷突变体rei1的分离和鉴定

植物体根发育是一个复杂的过程,尽管对其研究颇多,但对其中的分子机制尚缺乏足够认识。以模式植物拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）为研究材料,在T-DNA突变体库中分离到一个拟南芥根生长缺陷突变体rei1（root elongationinhi-bited1）。通过表型分析发现,rei1在生长发育方面与野生型存在明显的差异,突变体的根较野生型短,且角果较小,花出现部分的败育。对突变体进行显微结构分析,发现突变体的根在内部结构上表现为表皮及皮层细胞形态不规则,排列疏松且横向膨大。遗传学分析表明,rei1是单基因隐性突变且与一个T-DNA插入共分离,通过图位克隆的方法成功分离了缺失的候选基因。以上研究结果表明,REI1对植物的根发育具有非常重要的调节作用。     

拟南芥精氨酸甲基转移酶SKB1基因的分离与功能鉴定

以哥伦比亚"生态型(Columbia ecotype)拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)叶片为材料,采用RT-PCR技术,获得了拟南芥精氨酸甲基转移酶(SKB1)基因,该基因全长1 929 bp,将该基因克隆到原核表达载体pET28b上,并转化大肠杆菌BL21,经IPTG诱导表达大量目的蛋白,其表达量占菌体总蛋白的50%以上.通过切胶回收抗原的方法,制备了兔源AtSKB1多克隆抗体,同时构建了SKB1基因的正义表达载体pBI121-35S∷SKB1并转化拟南芥.Western检测结果显示,转基因植株的SKB1表达量显著增加,同时SKB1表达量增加的植株开花时间也明显提前,说明植株的开花时间与SKB1的表达量呈正相关.结果表明,拟南芥SKB1基因的过量表达可引起植株的早花,SKB1参与了植物的开花发育信号通路.     

水稻OsGSTL1启动子的分离和表达分析

从水稻基因组文库中筛选得到一个水稻GST基因,命名为OsGSTL1.半定量RT-PCR分析表明OsGSTL1基因的表达不受绿磺隆、乙烯利、脱落酸、水杨酸和茉莉酸甲酯的诱导,因此该基因可能与植物抗逆性无关.为了研究OsGSTL1启动子在植物体内的表达特性,将OsGSTL1起始位点5＇端上游不同长度的调控序列与报告基因GUS融合,并在洋葱表皮瞬间表达和拟南芥中稳定表达.研究表明：在洋葱表皮细胞中,160bp及更长的上游调控序列均能启动GUS基因的表达;而在转基因拟南芥中,含有2155 bp的上游序列的PGZ2.1：：GUS具有时空表达的特性,在转基因的早期幼苗中GUS基因在子叶中特异性表达,但在根中没有表达;而在幼苗生长的后期,根、茎、叶中都有少量的表达.但包含1 224 bp的上游序列的PGZ1.2：：GUS却表现为组成型表达的特性.由此推测,OsGSTL1启动子启动的基因表达可能与幼苗的营养代谢相关;而OsGSTL1启动子的时空表达相关元件可能位于OsGSTL1翻译起始位点5＇端上游-2155 bp至-1224 bp范围内.     

BRCA1相互作用蛋白的分离及鉴定

乳腺癌易感基因(breast cancer susceptibility gene-1,BRCAl)在DNA损伤修复、细胞周期调控、染色质的稳定、基因转录激活以及细胞凋亡等方面起着重要作用。BRCAI C-末端是富含酸性氨基酸的转录激活结构域(AD),AD核心结构为两个串联的BRCT结构域(BRCTl和BRCT2)。应用酵母双杂交技术,以BRCT2为诱饵蛋白,从卵巢文库中筛选到了与BRCT2结构域相互作用蛋白FHL2(four and half LIM domains)。利用酵母交配的方法证明FHL2与BRCAlBRCT2特异结合,而不与BRCAl BRCTl、Rapl BRCT结构域结合。GST沉淀实验表明,FHL2在体外特异地与BRCT2结构域相结合;免疫共沉淀实验表明,FHL2在体内特异地与BRCT2结构域结合;FHL2可与全长BRCAl结合。BRCAl与FHL2相互作用的发现为研究BRCAl以及FHL2在肿瘤发生、发展中的作用打下了坚实的基础。     

纤维素高效降解菌YN1的筛选及其降解特性

为了获得降解天然纤维素的微生物菌株,并用于农田秸秆腐熟及竹林地稻壳促腐。从牛羊粪堆肥中筛选出一株纤维素降解菌YN1,对其进行了形态和系统发育分析;测定了YN1的液、固体发酵酶活;进行了YN1对纤维素的失重测定;对YN1在纤维素表面上的定殖及其对纤维素的降解进行了电镜观察。经菌株形态分析和ITS基因序列分析,将YN1鉴定为曲霉(Aspergillussp.);在YN1菌株的液体发酵培养第3天,内切酶、外切酶、β-糖苷酶和总纤维素酶活性都达到最大值,分别为95.7、14.6、20.5和26.6U/mL,固体发酵培养第5d各酶活均达到峰值,依次为1192.2、100.6、136.9和210.7U/g;在失重测定中,YN1在7d内可降解41.87%的秸秆,31.59%的稻壳;在扫描电镜下可明显观察到YN1对滤纸、秸秆和稻壳的降解。YN1可有效降解天然纤维素,对农田秸秆腐熟及竹林地稻壳促腐具有较好的应用前景。     

Isolation and Characterization of LPS Mutants of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Serotype 1

The major adhesin of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, has been previously identified as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The purpose of the present study was to isolate and characterize A. pleuropneumoniae LPS mutants. Screening of LPS mutants was performed with colony dot and sensitivity to novobiocin. One mutant obtained by colony dot (F19) and one mutant selected for its increased sensitivity to novobiocin (33.1) did not react with a monoclonal antibody against A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 O-antigen compared with the parent strain. Mutants F19 and 33.1 did not express high-molecular-mass LPS bands as determined in silver-stained SDS-PAGE gels. The core-lipid A region of mutant 33.1 and of the parent strain had similar relative mobilities and reacted with serum from a pig experimentally infected with the serotype 1 reference strain of A. pleuropneumoniae, while the same region in mutant F19 showed faster migration and did not react with this serum. Use of piglet tracheal frozen sections indicated that mutant F19 was able to adhere to piglet trachea as well as the parent strain, while mutant 33.1 adhered [half as much as] the parent strain. Finally, both LPS mutants were markedly less virulent in mice than the parent strain. Taken together, our observations support the idea that LPS is an important virulence factor of A. pleuropneumoniae. Received: 23 December 1996 / Accepted: 19 February 1997     

小麦BBC1基因cDNA的克隆与分析

从小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)中克隆了一个BBC1基因的cDNA.分析结果表明,该基因编码一亲水多肽,富含丙氨酸、赖氨酸、精氨酸和谷氨酸.该基因的转录受低温调控.在小麦基因组中,BBC1基因以一个小家族的形式存在.     

一株DDT降解菌的筛选、鉴定及降解特性的初步研究

从DDT污染的土壤中筛选具有DDT降解能力的细菌,经过富集培养、分离纯化得到56株细菌,将其接种到基础盐酵母培养基,7d后用紫外分光光度计法初筛得到降解率较高的一株菌,编号为D-1.通过16S rDNA序列分析结合传统分类学方法确定该菌为寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas sp.)的一株茵.对菌体降解DDT的特性的研究表明,在培养温度为3℃,底物质量浓度为40 mg/L, pH 7.0,摇床转速为200 r/min的条件下,该菌株对DDT降解10d的降解率为69.0%.     

拟南芥GLABROUS1两个新等位突变体的筛选和鉴定

植物细胞命运决定机制的解析一直以来都是植物发育生物学研究的核心.模式植物拟南芥的表皮毛形成过程是研究植物细胞命运决定的优良模式系统.为了筛选和鉴定控制拟南芥表皮毛形成的新因子,我们进行了大规模的正向遗传筛选,获得了两株莲座叶表皮毛不能形成或数量显著减少的突变体f08-01和vat002-07.通过对突变基因的克隆和遗传...     

小麦中编码未知蛋白的热胁迫响应基因TaWTF1的克隆和功能分析

WTF1 (What’s this factor 1)是包含“Domain of Unknown Function 860”(DUF860)的一类蛋白, 特异定位于植物细胞叶绿体或线粒体中, 在内含子的剪切中发挥作用。在研究小麦(Triticum aestivum)热胁迫转录谱时发现一个包含该结构域的探针受高温诱导表达。通过对其所编码的基因TaWTF1进行克隆并详细分析, 发现该基因的启动子区包含HSE、干旱、GA及SA等胁迫和激素响应元件, 且该基因在苗期和开花期均受热胁迫诱导表达。在开花期, TaWTF1在普通叶中的表达显著高于包括旗叶在内的其它组织器官。进一步将该基因在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)中超表达, 显著提高了转基因植株在热胁迫下的成活率, 说明TaWTF1参与了植物耐热性。该研究为解析植物耐热性分子机理开辟了新的领域, 并为作物耐热性分子育种提供了候选基因。     

一株DDT降解菌的筛选、鉴定及降解特性的初步研究

从DDT污染的土壤中筛选具有DDT降解能力的细菌, 经过富集培养、分离纯化得到56株细菌, 将其接种到基础盐酵母培养基, 7 d后用紫外分光光度计法初筛得到降解率较高的一株菌, 编号为D-1。通过16S rDNA序列分析结合传统分类学方法确定该菌为寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas sp.)的一株菌。对菌体降解DDT的特性的研究表明, 在培养温度为30℃, 底物质量浓度为40 mg/L, pH 7.0, 摇床转速为200 r/min的条件下, 该菌株对DDT降解10 d的降解率为69.0%。     

小麦BBC1基因cDNA的克隆与分析

从小麦(Triticum aestivum L．)中克隆了一个BBC1基因的cDNA。分析结果表明,该基因编码一亲水多肽,富含丙氨酸、赖氨酸、精氮酸和谷氦酸。该基因的转录受低温调控。在小麦基因组中,BBC1基因以一个小家族的形式存在。     

Isolation and Characterization of the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Terminase Complex

During herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection, empty procapsids are assembled and subsequently filled with the viral genome by means of a protein complex called the terminase, which is comprised of the HSV-1 UL15, UL28, and UL33 proteins. Biochemical studies of the terminase proteins have been hampered by the inability to purify the intact terminase complex. In this study, terminase complexes were isolated by tandem-affinity purification (TAP) using recombinant viruses expressing either a full-length NTAP-UL28 fusion protein (vFH476) or a C-terminally truncated NTAP-UL28 fusion protein (vFH499). TAP of the UL28 protein from vFH476-infected cells, followed by silver staining, Western blotting, and mass spectrometry, identified the UL15, UL28, and UL33 subunits, while TAP of vFH499-infected cells confirmed previous findings that the C terminus of UL28 is required for UL28 interaction with UL33 and UL15. Analysis of the oligomeric state of the purified complexes by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation revealed that the three proteins formed a complex with a molecular mass that is consistent with the formation of a UL15-UL28-UL33 heterotrimer. In order to assess the importance of conserved regions of the UL15 and UL28 proteins, recombinant NTAP-UL28 viruses with mutations of the putative UL28 metal-binding domain or within the UL15 nuclease domain were generated. TAP of UL28 complexes from cells infected with each domain mutant demonstrated that the conserved cysteine residues of the putative UL28 metal-binding domain and conserved amino acids within the UL15 nuclease domain are required for the cleavage and packaging functions of the viral terminase, but not for terminase complex assembly.     

Isolation and Characterization of Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme E1-domain Containing 1, UBE1DC1

Ubiquitin and other ubiquitin-like proteins play important roles in post-translational modification. They are phylogenetically well-conserved in eukaryotes. Activated by other proteins, ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins can covalently modify target proteins. The enzymes responsible for the activation of this modification have been known to include UBA1, SAE2, UBA3, SAE1 and ULA1. Here we report a new ubiquitin activating enzyme like cDNA, named ubiquitin activating enzyme E1-domain containing 1 (UBE1DC1), whose cDNA is 2654 base pairs in length and contains an open reading frame encoding 404 amino acids. The UBE1DC1 gene consists of 12 exons and is located at human chromosome 3q22. The result of RT-PCR showed that UBE1DC1 is expressed in most of human tissues. These two authors contributed equally to this paper. The nucleotide sequence reported in this paper has been submitted to GenBank under accession number AY253672.